Elephant Rumblings: JP Sears shows resolve after tough first inning

The Oakland Athletics dropped their third straight game Sunday falling to the Houston Astros 3-2. Despite the loss, one of their young starters showed progress after a rough start to his afternoon. JP Sears needed 37 pitches to escape the first inning and did well to limit the damage to a 2-0 lead. He then went back out and blanked the Astros for the next five innings while retiring 16 of the final 17 batters that he faced.

“Obviously, not happy with how the game started,” Sears said of a first inning that saw him labor with 37 pitches. “Settled in. Just felt like I located my fastball pretty well the last five innings. I kept guys off the slider a little bit. Fastball played up good for me today. Just tried to fill up the zone after that long first inning and keep the team in the game. I felt like I did that.”

It has been a tough start to the season for just about all of Oakland’s pitching staff, but Sears has shown signs of promise throughout the darkness. Sunday’s game was the sixth time he has allowed three earned runs or less among his nine starts. More often than not, he has given the A’s a chance and is showing that he could be a building block for the future.

A’s Coverage

• A’s drop close one to Astros 3-2
• A’s place Drew Rucinski on injured list, recall James Kaprielian
• Eyeball scout continues analysis through the tears
• A’s rookie phenom Ruiz creates chaos on basepaths vs. Astros
• Dusty Baker shares emotions about A’s potential move to Las Vegas
• Does uncovered MLB document suggest Giants shouldn’t have kept South Bay territorial rights?
• Get to know Oakland’s newest addition: Bay Area native Lucas Erceg

MLB News

• Dodgers place Julio Urias on 15-day injured list
• Twins place Jorge Polanco on 10-day injured list
• The staggering numbers behind Ronald Acuña Jr’s push for baseball history
• Aaron Hicks designated for assignment, ending 8-year Yankees tenure
• Angels release Ryan Tepera
• White Sox to select Clint Frazier for Sunday’s game

Best of Twitter

Brent Rooker snapped an 0-for-10 stretch with two hits Saturday

Esteury Ruiz has four-straight multi-hit games.

More on JP Sears’ outing.

Mark Kotsay on Sears’ outing

Sears on how he was able to settle down after a rough first inning